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A D V A N C E D
M A T E R I A L S
&
P R O C E S S E S |
A P R I L
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platform. Spectral imaging and recipro-
cal optics are then utilized to assess a
number of material features including
thickness, surface conditions, and uni-
formity. ,
FUNDING SUPPORTS
CRYSTALLINE HARD
MATERIALS RESEARCH
A new Materials Innovation Plat-
forms (MIPs) program that aims to sig-
nificantly accelerate materials research
and development has made its first
awards, to Penn State University and
Cornell University. The institutions
will serve as platforms to develop new
bulk and thin film crystalline hard
materials through state-of-the-art
instrumentation. The Cornell award
is a multi-institution effort in collabo-
ration with Johns Hopkins University,
Clark Atlanta University, and Princeton
University. The National Science Foun-
dation will provide up to $25 million
over the next five years to support the
platforms, with each eligible for a one-
time, five-year renewal. The effort aims
to accelerate development of technol-
ogies in a wide range of areas, such as
microelectronics, fuel and solar cells,
and new biomaterials, generating eco-
nomic gains for the nation. The effort
is data-intensive and researchers not
directly involved with the platform
will also have access to the generated
data. Cornell will focus primarily on
oxide and oxide-based 2D films on
new substrates—physical materials for
advanced electronics. Penn State will
study metal chalcogenide materials
including sulfides, selenides, and tel-
lurides. ,
The surface of bismuth selenide film shows the triangular layer structure that is characteristic
of 2D chalcogenide materials. Courtesy of Joan Redwing, Penn State University.